I have two kids.

I know this should not come as a surprise, but I have two kids and they are (gasp) different from each other. As much as I have pondered the whole nature vs. nurture thing and as much as I am all over Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” I still kind of expected my kids to be more like each other. They do have the same parents and they do live in the same environment, some of their crazies HAVE to be our fault right? But no, they were born this way dammit and this is how they will be!

When I was pregnant with Mila and going through the “how will I love another?” guilty mom phase, I was secretly hoping that she would look different from her sister. I don’t know why I fixated on the physical part, but I just wanted them to each have their own look. I was so excited when she was born and had no hair! I think it just helped me separate them as two distinct beings that I could love. I don’t know how else to explain it.

Now that Mila is a full-fledged little human, I see that their personalities make them distinct as well. Their differences might seem silly to an outsider (YOU! YOU OUTSIDER!), but just funny little things have come as such a surprise to us. Lily, for as long as I can remember has been a little fish. I could actually leave her in the bathtub for three hours (I don’t.) and she would still complain when I took her out. Mila gets her fuzzy little head washed and then immediately tries to climb out. Done. Moving on. Lily HATES loud noises. As soon as she hears a fire truck in the distance she says: “I want to go home!” Therefore, every time we vacuum, which lets be honest isn’t all that often, she is up on the couch with her hands over her ears. Mila on the other hand must be restrained because she spends the whole time chasing the vacuum and patting it like a dog. Lily has always kind of eaten like a little bird and we practically had to hand feed her for the first couple of years just to get enough food in her mouth. Mila eats…not like a little bird exactly, more like a small bear. She shovels food into her mouth and growls and claps. I take the clapping as compliments to my cooking but I think it is mostly “yay food!” Ryan and I often find ourselves looking at each other and saying out loud: “our kids are different!” It keeps things exciting I suppose. We get to learn how to parent two completely different personalities. You know what they do have in common? They are both exceptionally adorable. I take credit on that one. Nature for the win!

Grown-Up Shmown-Up

A couple of weeks ago Lily’s preschool had a parents' meeting where we were supposed to come without kids to learn about the school, their policies, meet the teachers, see the classrooms etc. Ryan stayed home with the girls and I set off for the meeting on my own. On the drive there I started to feel kind of nervous and I realized that in my mind I was thinking: this is weird, it is going to be me and a bunch of adults. Like, I’m nervous to be around all these parents. Like, I’m a kid and THEY ARE GROWN-UPS. Hold the phone… I’m a parent. These people have kids the same age as mine. Some of them might even be younger than me. I’M A GROWN-UP TOO.

 

I wore my Hello Apparel shirt, but took this pic later because I was too scared one of those grumpy old person parents would catch me instagramming in my car and judge me.

I don’t know what it is. I feel like a parent. I feel like a responsible adult-type person. I have two children. I’m freaking 31 years old! By all accounts I should consider myself a grown-up, but it still seems weird. Is it because I still shop at Urban Outfitters? You would tell me if I needed to stop, right? Whatever, young at heart baby! I’m going with it.

This Post Comes to You in Three Parts...

Why three parts you ask? Because I said so! Also because none of them have anything to do with each other.

Part 1: Hair

I cut my hair! Not like oh hey, I cut my hair, but like I really really cut it, like probably 10 inches cut it.

See there is this little book I love called The Fault in Our Stars, you may have heard about it by now, but I knew about it first! Just kidding, it isn’t a contest. Or is it? No, it’s not. Anyway, the book is by one of my favorite authors and is currently being made into a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. See, the book is about teenagers with cancer, but it isn’t really about that at all. Just trust me and read it if you haven’t already. It is a cry, laugh, cry/laugh book that will make you feel all the feels.

But back to my hair. Shailene Woodley is playing the protagonist, Hazel, and for the role needed to cut her hair. She decided to donate her hair to Children with Hair Loss and invited fans of the book, the movie, happiness, and life in general, to join her in donating.

Before you think: “hey weirdo, some actress asks you to cut your hair and you just do it?” Well yes, that is exactly what happened. But, it isn’t my first time at the hair donation rodeo! Five years ago, right after my wedding my sweet 4-year-old niece/flower girl donated her hair and inspired me to do it as well! It is just hair, it grows back. You should do it too! If you don't have enough hair to donate, you can help someone who does. My amazing mom and sister paid for my hair cut! Gooooo family (and free haircuts)!

I love it, it is so easy to wash, and I can still make a tiny ponytail! I’m just going to be a hair farm every few years. Gross. Hair farm.

Part II: Preschool

Lily started preschool, holy cute!

I wasn’t that nervous about the first day drop-off because we did a couple of summer camps at her school over the last few months and she did great then. Cut to first day drop-off and: SHE CRIED! Oh no! I was totally that mom who called 3 ½ minutes after drop-off to ask if she was ok. The front desk lady told me I just had to hold it together a few more hours. Hey, FU lady! Also, touché.

She did great after the first 2 minutes and hasn’t cried since. Instead she gives me “bye Mom.” as she walks off. Which is worse? Now she’s all singing songs and saying “you sing too!” and I’m all “I don’t know that song.” She is a real person with a piece of life separate from mine. Wah. Also yay.

Part III: Mila

Just a quick post to say: this kid. I just can’t even. All the cute. Sometimes I take her out just so I can hold her up to people and say: “look what I did!”

She is fun. When she says “no” it sounds like “now” and gives me mommy giggles.

*end random post*